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Tim Tebow (sort of) costs high school student his diploma

The "headline" given on "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio was exactly the same as our subject, although to be clear, it's a little hyperbolic, but the story is still comical, at its heart.

Chuck Shriner crossed the stage during his graduation on Saturday from Bishop Verot, and as he did so, he paused, dropped to one knee, and Tebow-ed his principal. As you might recall, Tebowing is the term used for the kneeling "pose" (shown above) that Tebow, a devout Christian, takes after every touchdown he scores. Naturally, he's been both criticized and applauded for the act.

Tebowing is apparently sweeping the nation as a hot trend showcased on many a YouTube video and Instagram, and Shriner jumped on the Tebow bandwagon.

“I just thought it was fun," Shriner commented. "I was just doing it to make graduation memorable."

Clearly the kid did not take his act of faked piety seriously – and neither did his audience. Parents and students erupted into laughter, though administration was quick to reprimand. The principal withheld Shriner’s graduation diploma. The teen was told in no uncertain terms that he will not be receiving his diploma because of his onstage antics.

Later they said they will talk to his mom – after he cleans the school’s gym thoroughly.

The Fort Myers teen thought he would be attending the University of Central Florida in the fall to study mechanical engineering but was probably having to rethink that plan as he scrubbed the gym floor.

“They said what I did would give underclassmen inspiration to do something else, that it might lead to something else," Shriner said about the school administration's reaction. "So they were trying to set an example."

Shriner’s attitude remained cheerful throughout, however. On his Facebook page, he wrote that evening: "Moment in my life I'll never forget, getting my diploma taken away for doing the Tebow on stage in front of (Principal John) Cavell. So worth it."

Maybe he could maintain his good spirits because he knew a secret – he knew his mom, who is also a math teacher at Bishop Verot, put the administration up to withholding his diploma. And it looks like mom must have known her wayward son was up to something before the ceremony was underway.

Shriner admits he was put up to the caper by his friends, who bet him $5 to do it. "Yeah they dared me," Shriner said later. "But I would have done it for free." And mom must have wagged her finger and said don’t you dare. Which the teen ignored, of course.

After Shriner cleaned up the gym, his mom went to pick up his diploma for him. “She was really mad," Shriner said. "But I think it was worth it."

So did his Facebook followers. By Monday evening, Shriner's Facebook post received 45 likes and 14 comments — all laughing. One friend wrote "OMG (you're) crazy but very funny!!!"